Axle straightening mechanise



H. WOCHNER AXLE STRAIGHTENING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original FiledMay 6, 1929 m m w m 7 D M ATTORNEY.

Reiuued Jan. 17, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY WOGHNER, 01 ROCKISLAND, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB T0 BEAR MANUFACIUBHVG 00mm, 03' ROCK ISLAND,ILLINOIS AXLE STRAIGHTENING MEGHANISE Original Io. 1,818,811, datedAugust 18, 1931, Serial No. 360,882, flied- Kay 6, 1928. Application forreissue illed Iarch 28, 1932. Serial No. 601,681.

My invention has reference to an axle straightening device, and is ofthe same claw as the automobile axle press for which I filed applicationfor Letters Patent of the United States on the twenty-first day ofDecember, 1928, Serial No. 327,643. The purpose of the present inventionis largely similar to that of the one shown in said former application,and it is intended for use with a heavy crossbeam orother fixture,preferably with a pit or other space beneath it to facilitate themanipulation of the device.

One of the objects of the present invention is -to provide an attachmentfor a beam of the kind named which will provide a substantial holdingframe or vise, by means of which an axle can be held in immovableposition while it is being bent or twisted. The correction of a fault inthe axle can also be made without heating the axle, and in most caseswithout removing the same from the motorvehicle.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a mechanism which iscapable of a quick set-u ,-when being applied to an axle, and which,except in special cases, does not require the use of bolts or similarfastening means, excepting those by the use of which the device isrigidly supported on a beam, and which only require to be manipulated incase of a desired adjustment thereof on the beam. It can be as quicklydisconnected and taken apart afterbemg used.

The above named and other features and advantages of the invention willmore fully appear from the followim; specification, taken in cohnectionwith the drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows the invention in use in itssimple form, for correcting a bend in an axle in a vertical plane, withthe axle detached from the vehicle.

Fig."2 is a similar view, showing the 1nvention in use for correcting abend'in the axle in,a horizontal plane.

Fig. '3 shows the complete mechanism, with an axle in position thereinfor correcting a twist in the axle, with the axle in position in thevehicle.

accompanying Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the vise I line 66 of Fig.2.

Fig. 7 is a detail of the cradle 30.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the vise mechanism and twisting tool, indetail.

On account of the length of an ordinary axle it is found to be necessaryto make use of two of the. devices for holding the same, one near eachend of the axle. This arrangement is shown in the first three figures ofthe drawings, and said mechanisms are similarly constructed andoperated, so that the description of one thereof will-be understood torelate to the other one also.

In said first three figures the device is shown in connection with apit, having side walls 1 and 2, in which are imbedded the ends of across-beam, formed of a pair of spaced channel-plates 3 and 4.' Mountedtransversely of the beam is an oblong frame 5, secured to said beam by abolt 6 passing downwardly through the space in the beam and through aneye 7 in the lower bar 9 of the frame, and provided on its lowerthreaded end with a nut 8. The frame 5 is thereby rigidly connected withsaid beam. In Fig. 1 an axle 10 is shown in position beneath the up erbars of two of the frames 5, and supporte at a central point by a jack11, which may be of any known construction. By upward pressure beingapplied by said jack the central portion of the axle can be bentupwardly to correct a faulty curvature therein. By inverting the axlethe force can be applied to bend it in the opposite direction.

In Fig. 2 an axle 17 is shown supported sideways against one of the sideplates of the frames 5, said plates being provided with openings 12 and13 through which pass bolts 14, supporting shackle-plates 15, which areclamped tightly against the axle 17 by means of nuts 16 on thethreaded-ends of said bolts. (Fig. 6). Force can then be applied to thecenter or ends of the axle by means of a jack, to bring the body of theaxle or either end thereof backinto proper alignment. In

Fig. 2 a jack 18 is shown positioned on the beam 34, beneath one end ofthe axle 17.

In Fig. 3 is shown an axle 20, provided on its ends with wheels 21,which rest on the floor at the sides of the pit. The axle is supportedat each end on top of one of the frames 5, and is held from sidemovement by pairs of lugs 22 on the upper bar of the frame. (Fig. 5.)The axle 1s held from movement by means of auxiliaryframes, eachcomprising a cross-bar 23 and a. pair of arms 24 projected upwardlytherefrom, and provided at their ends with hooks 25, which engage thegpper faces of the springs 26 of the vehicle,

en thus positioned there is a space between the bar 23 and the upper barof the frame 5, into which a pair of wedges 27 and 28 is driven, inopposite directions, with the effect of spreading said bars'and clampingthe spring 26 and axle 20 tightly in place. While thus held immovably inposition, force can be applied to the end of the axle to reduce any tortor twist therein. A mechanism for accomplishing this is moreparticularly shown in Figures 7 and 8, and consists of a cradle 29,capable of receiving one end of the axle 20, and provided withadditional axle seats 30, to accommodate axles of greater sizes. At itslower side the cradle 29 is provided with a socket 31 in which isinserted oneend of a bar 32. At each end of the cradle is a bearingpoint 33, by means of which one end or the other is supported on thejack 34, permitting a rocking movement to the tool. By applying anupward force by means of the jack and at the same time bearing down uponthe bar 32 the cradle 29 is tilted, and the desired amount of twistgiven to the axle. If the twist is to be given in the opposite directionthe position of the bar is reversed in the socket and the jackpositioned beneath the other bearing point 33.

When the auxiliary frame is used the axle is held as in a vise, andwhile thus held any of the bending or twisting operations may beperformed thereon. It is alwa s essential that the'jack shall have a sutantial support on the beam, and in some cases when the twisting tool isbeing used it is necessary to support the axle a little to oneside'ofthe.

beam. To do this the bolt 6 is ositioned in an extra eye 36 at one end 0the bar 9, which results in the greater part of the frame and axle beingheld-at one side of the beam. The jack can usually be supported on thebeam member on the side opposite to that on which the axle is held.

In some cases where the length of the frames 5 would .cause the axle tobe supported at too great a height above the cross-beam said frames canbe turned on their sides, and the bolts 6 passed through some of the onin the side pieces. In other cases w ere it is desired to increase 'thespacing between the axle and the beam the frames 5 can be supported onblocks 37- (Fi 2), with the bolts 6 pasin through per orations in theblocks. A di erent positioning of the axle with reference to the framescan also be secured by projecting the bolts 14 outwardly and supportingt e shackleplates 15 on the outside of the frames. By the variousadjustments of position of WhlCh the device is capable it can be readilyaccommodated to axles of different makes, and to the variouspositionings of such axles above the crossbeam. If an axle is subject totwo or more defects, all of these can be corrected while it is inposition in the vise.

After an axle has been operated upon while held in place by theauxiliary frames, it can be quickly released by driving out the wedges27 v and 28 and removing saidframes. If the frames 5 are also removed,together with the jack, there is nothing above the floor to interferewith the movement of a vehicle above the pit. In replacing the frames 5they can be adjusted in position with relation to each other or the endsof the beam.

The drawings herein illustrate the preferred embodiment of theinvention, the possibility of changes in the form and arrangement ofsome of the parts being obvious. 1

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combipation with a fixed beam, a rectangular frame supportedthereon, and rigidly connected therewith, an auxiliary frame includinghooked ends for engagement with the axle structure of an automobile, andhaving a cross-barspaced from the upper cross-bar of thefirst-named'frame when thus engaged, and means for reading said bars tocause a rigid clamping o the axle structure to said frame.

' 2. In combination'with a rigidly mounted beam, a rectangular framehavin an axle seat on its upper bar and prov ded with two or more boltopenings in lts lower bar, a bolt connecting said frame with said beam,and an auxiliary frame adapted to hold an axle rigidly in said seat.

3. In combination with a fixed beam, comprising a pair of spaced plates,a rectangular frame, provided with an axle seat on its upr bar, a. boltconnected with said frame, and held adjustably in the space in saidbeam, an auxiliary frame provided with means for engagement with thespring of an automobile, andhaving a part spaced from the upper bar ofsaid first-named frame, and apair of wedges oppositely disposed betweensaid part and said upper bar to force the same apart.

4. In combination with a fixed beam having a longitudinal channel, apair of axle vises secured thereto and adjustable longitudinallythereof, each of said vises consisting of a fixed frame for the supportof an ax e and an auxiliary frame for enga ement with the axlestructure, and means or imparting movement to the auxiliary framerelatively to the fixed frame to clam the axle tightly against the fixedframe.

5. In combination with a fixed beam having a longitudinal channel, abolt .held adjustably in said channel, an axle vise supported on saidbeam and secured thereto by said bolt, said vise consisting of a fixedframe and an auxiliary frame, engageable with an axle structure, andmeans for movement of the auxiliary frame to cause the same to hold anaxle tightly against the fixed frame.

6. In combination with a fixed beam and an axle clamping mechanismmounted thereon, and rigidly attached thereto, a power jack supported onsaid beam, a cradle provided with a plurality of axle holds of varyingwidths, for engagement with the end of an axle held in said clampingmechanism, and having a bearing point on one end for engagement by saidjack, and a bar connected with said cradle, and projected in theopposite direction from the bearing point.

7 In combination with a fixed beam, a frame supported on said beam andlaterally adjustable thereof, an auxiliary frame adapted for engagementwith the axle structure of an automobile, means for actuating saidauxiliary frame to clamp an axle rigidly upon said first-named frame, acradle engageable with the end of an axle held-by said frames. providedwith bearing points on both sides of such axle, a power jack mounted onsaid beam, and engaging one of said bearing points, and a bar secured tosaid cradle, projecting oppositely to said jack, and capable of beingreversed in position.

8. In' combination with a rigidly mounted beam, a rectangular frame andmeans for attachment thereof to said beam, fastenings supported in oneside of said frame, and a shackle plate supported by said fastenings inparallel relation with said frame and adapted to clamp an axle tightlyagainst the same.

9. In combination with a fixed beam, an axle clamping mechanism mountedthereon and rigidly attached thereto, a power jack mounted on said beam,and a cradle for engagement with the end of an axle held in saidclamping mechanism, and adapted to receive movement from said jack togive a twisting movement to the axle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY IVOCHNER.

